Amazon Renames 'Project Kuiper' Satellite Internet Venture To 'Leo' (geekwire.com)
- Reference: 0180070290
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/11/14/0416257/amazon-renames-project-kuiper-satellite-internet-venture-to-leo
- Source link: https://www.geekwire.com/2025/project-kuiper-no-more-amazon-renames-satellite-internet-venture-leo-on-path-to-commercial-service/
> Leo is a nod to "low Earth orbit," where Amazon has so far launched more than 150 satellites as part of a constellation that will eventually include more than 3,200. In a [2]blog post , Amazon said the 7-year-old Project Kuiper began "with a handful of engineers and a few designs on paper" and like most early Amazon projects "the program needed a code name." The team was inspired by the Kuiper Belt, a ring of asteroids in the outer solar system.
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> A new website for Amazon Leo proclaims "a new era of internet is coming," as Amazon says its satellites can help serve "billions of people on the planet who lack high-speed internet access, and millions of businesses, governments, and other organizations operating in places without reliable connectivity." Amazon said it will begin rolling out service once it's added more coverage and capacity to the network. Details about pricing and availability haven't been announced.
[1] https://www.geekwire.com/2025/project-kuiper-no-more-amazon-renames-satellite-internet-venture-leo-on-path-to-commercial-service/
[2] https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/amazon-leo/project-kuiper-becomes-amazon-leo
Project Kessler. (Score:2)
> Leo is a nod to "low Earth orbit," where Amazon has so far launched more than 150 satellites as part of a constellation that will eventually include more than 3,200..Amazon says its satellites can help serve "billions of people on the planet who lack high-speed internet access, and millions of businesses, governments, and other organizations operating in places without reliable connectivity."
Probably should have named it Project Kessler. Since that seems to be some kind of fucking goal here.
10,000 satellites ago I’d probably think this was a cool story bro. For some reason I have to fight the urge to yell “COPYCAT” at the top of my lungs instead. Can’t imagine why.
Re: (Score:2)
These satellites are hundreds of miles from each other. Furthermore they are in LEO which means the orbit decays in under 5 years if they don't have regular thrust correction. We've already had satellite collisions in space and last I checked space is still fine. The only way for Kessler to be real (and that too temporary) is if someone put hundreds or thousands of tons of ball bearings above a certain size up there.
Re: (Score:2)
> These satellites are hundreds of miles from each other. Furthermore they are in LEO which means the orbit decays in under 5 years if they don't have regular thrust correction. We've already had satellite collisions in space and last I checked space is still fine. The only way for Kessler to be real (and that too temporary) is if someone put hundreds or thousands of tons of ball bearings above a certain size up there.
NORAD was tracking over 18,000 objects in our orbit in the early 1990s. And hundreds of thousands is starting to describe the plans for that orbit. How many cellular providers are on planet now? How many ISPs? How many companies will now follow both SpaceX and Amazon into LEO to compete for the same exact thing? Who is stopping them? Cost is an artificial constraint when Greed can always find someone else’s money to pay for shit. Taxpayer money smells the best.
As far as the satellite collisions
Re: (Score:3)
What's copycat about it by the way? It's well known that Elon got the idea for Starlink after WorldVu went to SpaceX for launch services to launch its own mega-constellation. And WorldVu itself was just a extrapolation of Motorola Iridium.
Sigh. (Score:2)
Good for you.
Now...
When can we fecking buy it?
Anything but the proper solution (Score:2)
Why not just build the proper infrastructure with what we know works?
Re: (Score:3)
We don't have anything that works. There are dead zones even in cities. Rural, hilly, or forest areas have terrible coverage. Tens of billions spent and hardly anything to show for it. And I'm just talking about the US.
Re: Anything but the proper solution (Score:2)
I know. I am in a horrible spot in Florida for reception south of Orlando.
Re: (Score:2)
> Why not just build the proper infrastructure with what we know works?
Because taking taxpayer money for “broadband for all” programs and then pocketing the cash, seems to be “working” just fine?
Brave's AI is already called Leo (Score:2)
Looks like Amazon is usurping tech names again.
So why are they renaming it? (Score:2)
I read, then re-read it and still can't understand. "Leo" somehow projects "new era of internet" better than "Kuiper"? Why?
Re: So why are they renaming it? (Score:3)
They should rename it Kessler instead because it's going to be the path to the Kessler Syndrome.
Re: (Score:2)
They are low enough that even if they did cause major pollution, it should mostly clear itself inside a decade.
The bigger worry is pollution. Burning up so many satellites in the upper atmosphere is something that hasn't been studied enough, but the work that has been done suggests that it's bad for greenhouse effect and for general air quality.
Re: (Score:3)
> I read, then re-read it and still can't understand. "Leo" somehow projects "new era of internet" better than "Kuiper"? Why?
TFA clarifies that “Leo” is a nod to low earth orbit. I took that clarification as a clear example of why this program might fail. Since no one remembers what an acronym is.
Might as well have renamed to project “Space” as a convenient reminder for everyone on the team where the satellites go.
Re: (Score:2)
It's probably due to many people not being sure how to pronounce Kuiper.
Re: (Score:2)
Leo is Latin while Kuiper is Dutch.
I don't get it either, besides 'Leo' allowing better logos.